What’s the Holdup Auckland?

Media release: Generation Zero

Sunday 4 August

FOR RELEASE MONDAY 5 AUGUST

What’s the Holdup?, a nationwide speaking tour by climate change group Generation Zero hits Auckland today to outline to residents how New Zealand can build a low-carbon future.

The fourteen-stop tour kicked off in Dunedin on Monday 22 July to an audience of 400 and has attracted large crowds as it has travelled up the country. The Auckland event has over 400 RSVPs.

The Auckland event will showcase the substantial local and national opportunities for New Zealand to transition off coal, oil and gas, and will urge residents to use their power as citizens to build a mandate for central and local government leadership on the issue.

In the spotlight will be the comprehensive alternative transport plan for Auckland developed by Auckland Transport Blog and Generation Zero: the Congestion Free Network.

Featuring at the Auckland event are former director of the New Zealand Institute and ASB Bank, Dr Rick Boven, 2013 New Zealander of the Year, Dame Anne Salmond, and Shortland Street actor and Generation Zero ambassador, Cam Jones.

Other Generation Zero speakers include Louis Chambers, a co-founder of the group and a 2013 Rhodes Scholar, Paul Young, also a co-founder and Trustee of the National Energy Research Institute, and local organisers Kern Mangan-Walker and Sam Dyson.

“This is Auckland’s moment to find out how we can get moving on climate change and create a smart, healthy and prosperous New Zealand beyond fossil fuels,” says Kern.

“New Zealand is rich with opportunities to build a thriving low-carbon economy, but we’re being held back by a Government which sadly seems to have its head in the sand and is wasting vital public funds on an outdated motorway-building obsession.

“Auckland is at the centre of this national transport debate and our Congestion Free Network offers the kind of vision we need to embrace to build a thriving 21st century city.

“Aucklanders who care about these issues need to make their voices heard and make sure our elected representatives get with the times or get out of the way.

To highlight the prehistoric thinking Generation Zero members say is holding back progress towards a low-carbon future, the group is travelling the country with a five metre high dinosaur which features at the events.

At the meeting, Generation Zero will also unveil details of their local government election campaign, which centres around a call for candidates to support the Congestion Free Network and pledge to make action towards a low-carbon future a priority.

The Auckland What’s the Holdup? event will be held on Monday 5 August at 7pm at the Fisher and Paykel Auditorium, Owen Glen Building, Auckland University.

ENDS

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